Ornamental garden:
- Prune apples and pears, Cut back by a third to remove any dead or weak growth, aiming to create an open framework of about 5 main branches.
- Take root cuttings from perennials for new growth in time for spring.
- Sweet peas can be sown this month and those sown in the autumn can be potted on. For the best results, place on a warm windowsill to get them going.
- Plan annual cut flowers for the borders.
- Mulch borders if not already done in autumn.
- Plant deciduous hedges.
- Move deciduous trees and shrubs if necessary.
Vegetable garden:
- Protect brassicas with cloches, netting or fleece.
- Harvest Winter veg such as parsnip, swede, sprouts, leeks and turnip.
- Remove one-third of the oldest stems of blackcurrants at ground level to encourage new basal shoots.
- Plan this year’s crop rotation – aim to grow each crop in a different bed to last year’s to avoid the risk of disease.
- Start chitting seed potatoes.
Other jobs:
- Ventilate the greenhouse regularly to avoid moisture build-up.
- Keep bird-feeders and bird baths topped up.
- Clean pots and seed trays.
- Check tree stakes and ties.
- Inspect toolsand sharpen secateurs.
- Clean plant labels.
- Check compost bins for excess moisture and turn regularly.
- Organise seed collections and start planning your garden layout for the year ahead.
- Order new seeds to sow.